The beautiful Santanyi beach in Mallorca

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Useful things to know before travelling to Spain

Travel writer

There are a few things you need to be prepared for before travelling to Spain. These are practical things like bringing an adapter if you come from a country with different plugs, getting prepared to adapt your eating times to Spanish, and knowing a few basic words in Spanish can be an advantage.

We will cover all the basics you need to know before travelling to Spain in this post, including a few useful Spanish words and phrases - although you might find that in touristy places, most locals speak English.

Basic infomation

Electric plugs in Spain

Electric plugs in Spain are type C, also referred to as Euro-plugs, with two round pins which goi into two round holes in the wall. It is the same plug used in most European countries (not in the UK).

Opening hours

Spain is known for its “siesta”, and it is still customary for small, individual shops to close for a couple of hours during lunch hours. Luckily, you see it less and less, especially in bigger cities and touristy places, and the shopping malls stay open all day.

However, in small towns and non-touristy cities, you will find that everything is closed between 13:30 and 16:30 (give or take), and the streets are often dead as everyone is inside eating lunch.

Toilets in Spain

Toilets in Spain are free to use in restaurants and bars. In some places, it is marked “customers only”, but if you ask nicely, they usually let you use it if you walk by. If the restaurant is busy, just walk straight in and use them.

Legally, they cannot deny you to use the toilet, yet some places do. These are often more upscale places, but local pubs and bars are usually more at ease.

In many places in Spain, the water drains are bad and will clog if you throw toilet paper inside the toilet. Most restaurants and bars will write a note on the wall/door letting you know that you cannot throw paper inside the toilet. However, it is often only written in Spanish. So if there is a rubbish bin next to the toilet, you might as well use it.

We recommend always bringing a pack of Kleenex and a small soap or hand santizer when using public toilets, including in bars and restaurants in Spain. It is normal to find toilets without paper and soap, and it is not a priority unless you are in a fancy restaurant.

Smoking

Smoking inside hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops is not allowed in Spain, including outdoor spaces like playgrounds and in front of hospitals. However, you can smoke on terraces of hotels, restaurants, and bars unless otherwise stated. Larger hotels can leave 30% of their rooms for smokers.

Internet access in Spain

Most hotels, restaurants, cafés, and bars have free wifi for customers, though sometimes you must ask for the Wifi password.

It can be a good idea to get a Spanish sim card with mobile data on it for when you are in places with no Wifi connection. They can be purchased at the airport, in mobile phone stores, Tobacco shops, book shops, or kiosks.

Most Spanish use Whatsapp for messaging, also when it comes to accommodation etc., so it can be handy to have the app.

Food and drinks

Tap water in Spain

Tap water in Spain is generally safe to drink, but can sometimes taste bad. This can differ greatly within a city. Generally, they use a lot of chemicals in the tap water in Spain, so a water purifier might make it taste better.

Public fountains are marked “no potable” if it is not drinkable. If you see the sign “agua potable” it means the water is treated and safe to drink. Obvious drinking fountains are safe to drink from.

General behavior

There are a few rules of conduct that will get you a long way in Spain as a tourist. We have listed the most important ones here:

Do not wear swimwear in beach bars, restaurants, shops, and generally outside the beach. Put a top and shorts on.
People usually greet each other with a kiss on each cheek
It is not expected to leave a tip, however, you can round up the amount when paying in cash in restaurants, bars, and on taxi rides and tell them to keep the change
In shops, prices are fixed. You can bargain on the price with street sellers and sellers that walk on the beach selling bags, blankets, jewellery, etc.
Don’t expect locals to speak English. Ask nicely. Not all Spanish are comfortable speaking English even though they understand a bit.

What to pack for a trip to Spain

Depending on where you go in Spain, make sure you are prepared for the weather conditions, whether it is hot by the beach in summer or cold in the mountains in winter (then you will need layers to keep you warm.)

If you want to go hiking in Spain, make sure you bring a good pair of hiking boots, as the trails can be challenging. But even for sightseeing, there are a lot of cobblestoned streets in Spanish cities and towns, so you need a good pair of walking shoes.

In the winter months, be prepared for cold temperatures indoors, especially if you travel to the south, where houses are not prepared for the cold. It can often be colder inside than outside, so don’t be fooled by 20 degrees Celsius on the meter. In winter, you might also walk around in shorts and a t-shirt all day, but as soon as the sun goes down, you need to change to long pants and a jacket.